New port to be built in Saudi Arabia

Monday, 25 November 2013 06:41

The new port in Al Lith will be situated about 230km from the Jeddah port. (Image source: Ammar Shaker/Flickr)The Saudi Arabian government has approved plans to build a large port on its western coast, designed to increase foreign direct investments and help ease traffic towards its Red Sea port in Jeddah, which is one of the world's busiest harbours

According to Zawya, Jeddah assistant secretary general for municipalities, Mansour Al Gamdi, said the port is expected to receive giant cargo ships and other very large crude carriers. It will be located in the Al Lith town on a build area of 43mn sqm, about 230km from the Jeddah port.

Port authorities are awaiting financial allocations from the Ministry of Finance to launch the project.

The head of the municipality of Shawwak (located south of Al Lith), Omar Al Zahrani said, “This project will ease the pressure on the Jeddah port and contribute to the development of that area, creating jobs for Saudi nationals. It will attract residents, factories and other such investments.”

Once financial allocations are made, tenders will be announced for consultancy on the design work, the planning of the quays and canals, and for areas of excavation, added Zahrani. The official, however, declined to give a timeline for this port project.